STEP CONNECT2’s Post

Join the national conversation around the education estate!

The Call for Presentations for the annual gathering for the education sector in Wales are now OPEN! Education Buildings Wales is the only event of its kind dedicated to educational buildings in Wales. The conference programme will focus on key themes such as: ✏️Sustainability ✏️Achieving Net Zero ✏️Additional Learning Needs (ALN) Provision ✏️Health & Wellbeing ✏️Designing Inspiring Learning Spaces And more... Submissions are invited to align with these themes and should incorporate theoretical insights, best practice case studies, and inspirational, thought-provoking analysis from leading experts in the field. The deadline for submission is Friday 28 February 2025 Submit your Presentation: https://lnkd.in/etyRkGXn Find out more: https://lnkd.in/eAaX8bgz #education #welshgovernment #register #speakers #conference #awards #educationbuildings #educationbuildingswales #wales #architect #contractor #ebw #learningspaces #educationprojects #education #construction #conference #sponsorship #networking

More great news from our Yorkshire business with their recent appointment by the University of Leeds to undertake a series of works to improve its campus. 🏫 🎓 The capital works programme – procured through the Procure Partnerships Framework - will entail refurbishment of existing university spaces and entrances as well as reroofing and cladding works. The team will also create new informal student spaces and as well as upgrading teaching facilities. Read more about this project here: https://lnkd.in/eB56T4wt

In recent years, we have seen several adaptive reuse projects for higher education facilities. These types of projects were common in the hospitality, mixed-use, and residential markets in the past. Whether the impetus is preserving a historic building or saving on construction costs; it has been proven that older buildings can be repurposed to provide modern, interesting, and technologically advanced educational spaces for campuses.   Read our blog Adaptive Reuse in Higher Education to see how three large Universities are reimagining existing spaces for the benefit of students and their learning: https://lnkd.in/eV4UkStt

We're thrilled to share that our proposal to British Council’s Springboard Programme is approved for bilateral UK-France Partnerships and collaborating on this exciting opportunity (one of the three funded in England). Collaborators include Dr Chia-Lin Chen & Dr Kawtar Najib (University of Liverpool), Dr Taku Fujiyama (UCL), Professor Nacima Baron (Université Gustave Eiffel), and Dr Nils Le Bot (ENSA Paris-Val de Seine).   The project, entitled “Rethinking Public Transport Systems: Scaling-Up Proximity from People-Centred Perspectives in Sustainable Communities, Cities and Regions”, aims to establish a long-term research collaboration and interdisciplinary pedagogical partnership between the University of Liverpool and Université Gustave Eiffel. It addresses longstanding challenges in sustainable mobility, public transport, and urban planning, particularly in the context of climate change and urban sprawl. The project brings together expertise in urban and transport planning, rail engineering, social inclusion, and architecture from both countries.   Activities include a Springboard Meeting in Liverpool (20–21 March 2025), involving 10 core participants, including six early career researchers (ECRs). The meeting will facilitate knowledge exchange, research presentations, and collaboration, with potential for broader institutional participation. The grant also funds one-week lab placements for 4 ECRs, two from each country to visit partner university. Online training supports 2ECRs focus on park-and-ride solutions and digital technology in urban planning, equipping researchers to address real-world mobility challenges. We'll share more about our springboard meeting programme in due course!   #GoingGlobalPartnerships *Going Global Partnerships supports universities, colleges and wider education stakeholders around the world to work together towards stronger, equitable, inclusive, more internationally connected higher education, science and TVET.  

Place making: An innovative conceptual device in the early phases of design development ensures that a new building or complex better reflects the history—often informed by multiple protagonists—and the natural conditions of their immediate surroundings. https://hubs.ly/Q031md6j0

AUDE last addressed the issue of legacy buildings in a 2008 report, so it is high time that we return to a subject that matters more and more. In managing our carbon obligations and in operating within tight financial constraints, the estates teams of today need more flexibility and creativity than ever before in getting the most possible from every building and every campus space. With capital spend in the overall Higher Education estate a clear £1bn down on its pre-pandemic levels, every university is looking to get the most from its older buildings. These can be the places that give each campus its unique character, and some will hold the historical story of the university whether the institution has Victorian or even medieval roots. But increasingly when we think of ‘legacy’ we may mean buildings of the immediate post-war period. Whatever the era we can be faced with a patchwork campus of buildings created using all kinds of technologies, including largely obsolete ones that don’t match up easily with the expectations of our staff and students today. As we focus our efforts towards 21st century pedagogies, digitisation, and the decarbonisation of our campuses, we can face legacy obstacles even in the shape of buildings of which we are immensely proud. Buildings of the last 30 years are now starting to be listed: this picture is a moving one. In the new AUDE Legacy Buildings Guide, published today, we look at these and related issues. We are grateful to Arup (including Andy Sheppard and Rick Lee) for their support in creating the new guide, as well as to the many AUDE members that had a helpful hand in its development. We hope you’ll be able to join our online session on 6 November at 10am which will introduce you to the document and help you to start thinking about the value it will add to your planning. Link to document: https://lnkd.in/egQeJtf8 Link to webinar booking: https://lnkd.in/eFUwtqVq Jane Harrison-White Richard Ralph

Choosing the right college from the many options available in Melbourne can be a challenging process, especially when considering institutions abroad. However, several essential factors need to be considered before embarking on this new chapter of your life. That’s why we've prepared a shortlist to help you make the best choice for your future. 🌎 Embrace diversity: A culturally rich environment enhances your educational experience and personal growth, preparing you for a globalised world. 📅 Academic Schedule Matters: Be sure the school’s academic calendar aligns with your needs to avoid unnecessary delays. 💰 Consider the Cost: Be mindful of financial considerations to ensure you choose a college that aligns with your budget. All the shortlist you can find in our blog post here: https://lnkd.in/gU94CVyX #internationalschoolmelbourne #internationalcollegemelbourne #australiancitydesigncollege #acdc #diplomaofscreenandmedia #design #designcollege

Looking to prioritize your professional development? Here are the top courses curated to improve your mastery of the NYC Zoning ordinance.

Schools (K-12) are arguably the most important building type we create. They represent not only institutions for learning, but they help to define the communities they serve. It's important to build them right. If you're in the Portland, Oregon area, this in-person learning opportunity is not to be missed. #SchoolConstruction #ResilientDesign #Schools